Atomizer



R. F. MASSA Feb. 2, 1937.

ATOMIZER Filed Sept. 8, 19.34

Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to atomizers and more particularly to atomizersor sprays of the character used in atomizing or spraying medicinalliquids.

Atomizers or sprays to be best suited for present day use should becompact and small enough to be readily carried in a pocket or handbag ofthe user. They should be of rugged construction and so designed thatthey can successfully Withstand considerable shock. They should be alsoIconstructed that they can be readily cleaned and sterilized.Furthermore, they should be made of material that Will not be affectedby the medicinal liquids used and will withstand the temperatures andtemperature changes attendant upon their use and also upon cleaning andsterilization. In View of the fact that it is often desirable to obtaina Warm spray of the medicinal liquid, the sprays or atomizers shouldalso be such that an accessible portion thereof can be readily heatedand when heated, retain enough heat to Warm an appreciable quantity o1"spray.

The atomizers or sprays now available are generally too bulky to becarried about on the person and when made of glass are so delicate thatthey must be carefully handled to avoid breaking. Their construction isalways such that they can only be cleaned with difficulty. The ones thatare made of glass, because of their delicate and in tricateconstruction, cannot successfully stand rapid temperature changes. Hencegreat care must be taken in sterilizing and heating them. This sameconstruction renders them fragile under shock in handling. The ones madeof other material are usually corroded by one or another of themedicinal liquids used in them and if for no other reason are alwaysunsatisfactory. Furthermore, the present atomizers or sprays are soconstructed that in order to produce a Warm spray it is necessary toheat the Whole of the atomizer or spray as by inserting it in a heatedliquid.

This invention has for an object a small atomizer or spray of simple andrugged construction that can readily and safely be carried about in apocket or handbag, that can be easily cleaned and/or sterilized, thatcan quickly be made to produce a Warm spray and that can be easily andcheaply manufactured.

In accordance with my invention I form the atomizer or spray out ofthree concentric tubes. The tubes may be made out of any suitablematerial having the desired characteristics but for ease of manufactureas Well as ruggedness in use of the nished atomizer or spray, I atpresent prefer to make the tubes of strong glass of very low coeiiicientof expansion. A glass such as the well known Pyrex glass is entirelysuitable.

The outer spray directing tube is preferably, though not necessarily,formed With a spherical 5 enlargement adjacent one end. Into this end ofthe outer tube is inserted the inner or air tube and welded thereto sothat a portion of the air tube is within the outer tube. The portion ofthe air tube within the spray directing tube is of 10 reduced diameter.Though the air tube may be formed by welding two tubes of differentdiameters, I preferably form it by reducing a portion of a tube of thellarger diameter and weld this tube to the outer, or spray directingtube at the 1|i region where the reduction commences. The extremelylight portion of the air tube Within the spray directing tube isremarkably free from. danger of breakage by reason of the manner inwhich it is supported and by reason of the fact, 20 as will appearhereinafter, that it is not used to carry the weight of other parts.

The intermediate or liquid directing tube is loosely positionedconcentrically of the air tube and extends from the joint of the airtube and the outer tube to a predetermined distance beyond the end ofthe air tube. The lower end of the liquid tube is cut at an angle ornotched so as to assure a proper flow of liquid into and through it tothe end of the air tube. The diameter of the liquid tube as well as thedistance which it extends beyond the air tube is determined by theviscosity and density of the liquid to be sprayed as we'll as thecharacter of the spray desired. The liquid tube at its discharge end ispreferably centered on the air tube by one 0r more projections, formedin the walls of the outer tube, that touch the sides of the liquid tube.The liquid tube is positioned against substantial axial movementrelative to the air tube by one or more projections formed in the wallsof the outer tube which Contact with the upper end of the liquid tube.When a very ne spray is desired the path of the spray through the outertube may be baied by one or more projections vformed in the sides of 45the outer tube so that only the particles of liquid that are fine enoughto be deflected past the projections by the air current can get out.

In another preferred form of my invention I bend the outer tube until ittouches the 50 upper edge of the liquid tube. In this form the walls ofthe outer tube in line with the outlet of the air tube and the liquidtube serve the purpose of the baliie projections and the portion of thewalls of the outer tube that contact with the liquid tube serve thepurpose of the axial movement limiting projections as well as thepurpose of one of the centering projections. However, I employ at leastone separate centering projection to assure that the extremely light airtube has only itself to support and thereby keeping all strain away fromthe air tube.

In still another preferred form of my invention I provide a region ofenlarged diameter intermediate the ends of the liquid tube and form aplurality of projections in the outer or spray directing tube thatcontact with the walls of the enlarged region. In this form I can obtainthe centering and axial movement limiting functions by means of a singleset of projections.

I may also modify any of the preferred embodiments mentioned byemploying a liquid tube that has a tapering upper end in order toobtain, when desired, a further modification in the character of theatomization.

In all of the preferred embodiments as well as their modifications theend of the air tube that is outside of the outer tube is placed in theair outlet hole of an air bulb or pump. In forming the air bulb or pumpI prefer to place the air inlet check valve in the bottom thereof and tomake the bottom definitely convex. With the check valve in this positionthe appearance is better and there can be no interference with itsnormal operation by the users hand. Also the life of the air bulb willbe increased as the walls of the air bulb around the check valve willnot be greatly flexed during operation and the tendency to force out thecheck Valve will be a minimum. Since it is always desirable to be ableto maintain the atomizer in an upright position when not in use, Iprovide a skirt around the bottom portion of the air bulb which willoifer stable support.

The fiuther objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent froma consideration of preferred embodiments thereof taken with theaccompanying drawing, in which, 1

Fig. 1 is a part sectional front view of one preferred embodiment of myinvention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l,

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are views similar to Fig. l of other preferredembodiments, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary Views of modi cations of the preferredembodiments of Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the intermediate or liquiddirecting tube of th preferred embodiments shown in Figures l, 2, 3, 4and 5.

The atomizer or spray I Ei of Fig. l is made up of three generallyconcentric tubes, I I, I2 and I3. Tubes II, I2 and I3 are preferablymade of glass of Very low coeicient of expansion such as the well knownPyrex glass. Tube II, which is the outer or spray directing tube, may beof any diameter suited to the purpose to which atomizer I 0 is to beput. While tube iI may be of any length, I prefer, for reasonshereinafter pointed out, that it be about two or more inches in length.The lower end of tube I I is expanded into the spherical or bulbous formso as to increase the liquid holding capacity of the lower end thereof.'Io obtain the desired strength and ruggedness I prefer to" somanipulate the tube II in forming this bulb that its walls areapproximately as thick as the walls of the straight portions of tube II.

Tube I2, which is the inner or air tube, projects for a substantialdistance into tube II and is welded intermediate its ends, as at Ill, tosaid expanded end. Since the length of tube I2 in tube I I determinesthe depth of the liquid that can be kept in the reservoir defined by theexpanded end of tube II, I prefer that the end of tube I 2 extend to thetop, or a little beyond the top, of the expanded end. Tube I2 may bemade by welding two appropriately shaped tubes together but I prefer toform it by drawing a tube to the required shape.

Tube I3, which is the intermediate or liquid directing tube, is looselycentered on tube I2 and is long enough to extend from the region of weldIrl to beyond the end of tube I2. To assure a proper feed of the liquidthe end of tube I3 adjacent the joint of tubes II and I2 is cut at anangle or is notched. A notched tube I3 is shown in Fig. 8. The portionof tube I3 beyond the end of tube I2 forms a mixing chamber I5 in whichthe liquid is broken up into a spray and mixed with the air. The lengthand diameter of mixing chamber I5 are dependent on the character of theliquid to be sprayed and are best arrived at by experiment sincedifferent pressure reductions will be required with liquids of differentdensities and viscosities. Tube I3 is substantially centered on tube I2by providing one or more projections I6, one only being shown, in thewalls of tube II. Projections I5 are formed in the walls of tube II byheating an area thereof and pushing it in by means of a suitable tool.Projections I6 should be located near the discharge end of tube I3 andshould touch or almost touch the walls thereof. If more than oneprojection is used they should be spaced around the periphery of tube I6so as to best limit its motion, for instance, if two are used theyshould be 180u apart, if three are used they should be 120 apart, etc.

Tube I3 is positioned against substantial axial movement with referenceto tube I2 by projections I'i' which are formed in the same manner asprojections I6. However, projections I'I should be so located that aportion of their surface contacts, or almost contacts, with the upperedge of tube I S. Any desired number of projections I'I may be used. Ifprojections II are properly placed they may, in addition to performingtheir own function, also perform the function of projections Iii. Whenprojections I'I are used lor this double purpose it is preferable to usethree of them.

Projections I8, two of which are shown, are formed in the same manner asprojections I6 and I'I. However, they are located above the upper end oftube I3 and extend across substantially the full width of tube I3. Theseprojections I8 act as baffles and separate from the stream of spray thecoarser drops so that only a fine spray issues from the upper end oftube I I.

Tube II should extend a suflicient distance above the expanded portionto provide a mass of material having a heat retaining capacity suicientto warm a substantial amount of the spray passing therethrough. As isevident tube II may be heated by placing it over a convenient flame suchas a match, candle or the like.

'Ihe end of tube I 2 outside of tube II fits into the air outletaperture of air bulb or air pump I 9. Air bulb I9 may be of any of theusual shapes and may be made of any resilient material such as rubber orthe like. In the bottom of air bulb I9, which is made definitely convex,is located the usual check valve 2U. A skirt 2I flares somewhat from thebottom portion of air bulb I3 and offers a stable support upon which thecomplete atomizer I may be rested. The expanded end of tube II isprovided, in order t0y form a liquid reservoir of appreciable sizewithout unduly lengthening tube II. If a comparatively large sizereservoir is not required the end of tube II need not be expanded asabove described.

The atomizer I0 of Fig. 3 is substantially identical to that of Fig. 1With the exception that the baliling projections I8 are omitted.Consequently a detailed description of this gure is not necessary as theparts thereof that correspond to the parts of atomizer I0 of Fig. 1 havebeen similarly numbered but the prime has been added.

The atomizer I0" of Fig. 4 is also very similar to atomizer III ofFig. 1. In this case, however, centering projections I6 and positioningprojections I'I have been omitted. Atomizer IU includes an outer tubeII, an inner tube I2 and an intermediate tube I3 as Well as an air pumpI9". The parts of atomizer IB just enumerated are in every way the sameas the corresponding parts of atomizer I0 of Fig. 1. Above the end oftube I3" are formed baiiie projections I8. One of these projections I8is so located that its under side either touches or almost touches theupper edge of tube I3. Thus this baffle projection performs its ordinarybafing function and serves to limit the axial movement of tube I3" ontube I2". Atomizer ID, though generally satisfactory, is not asdesirable as atomizer Ill as tube I3 is subject to more shock than tubeI3 and, when tube II is large enough, tube I3" may transmit shock totube I2". n

Atomizer 30 of Fig. 5 is made up of three concentric tubes 29, 22 and 23mounted on an air bulb or pump 24. Tubes 22 and 23 and air bulb 24 areidentical with tubes I2 and I3 and air bulb I9 of Fig. 1. Tube 29 isformed with an enlarged lower end but is curved so that a portion of itsWalls contacts, or nearly contacts, with the upper edge of tube 23 andthus serves to limit the movement of tube 23 on tube 22 as well as tocenter tube 23 on tube 22. To center tube 23 and x it in position in aWay comparable to tube I3 an inwardly directed projection 25 is formedin the walls of tube 2| that contacts with the sides of tube 23 near thedischarge end thereof. If desired, a plurality of spaced projections maybe used. If one projection only is used it is located on the side oftube 2I opposite the portion that contacts with the upper edge of tube23. In this modification of my invention the wall of tube 29 which liesover the outlet of tube 23 serves as a baffling means for separating outthe coarse drops from the spray.

If desired, sprays or atomizers I0 and I0 of Figs. 1 and 3,respectively, and atomizer 30 of Fig. 5, may be modied as shown in Fig.6. In Fig. 6 the outer or spray directing tube is denoted by the numeralIIa, the inner or air tube by the numeral I2a and the intermediate orliquid tube by the numeral |311. Tube I3a is expanded intermediate itsends to form an enlarged portion 26. Enlarged portion 26 is preferablyso located that it is below the upper end of tube I 2a. A plurality ofprojections 21, two being shown, are formed in the walls of tube II sothat they contact, or almost contact, with the upper surface of enlargedportion 26. With this arrangement only one set of projections 21 arerequired to both center tube I3a on tube I2a and to limit the axialmovement vof tube I3 relative to tube I2a.

It is sometimes desirable, either because of the character of the liquidto be sprayed or because of the character of the atomization desired tohave a greater control over the atomization conditions that can beexercised by the modification of the length of the mixing chamber formedbetween the end of the air tube and the liquid tube. When such is thecase the preferred embodiments of Figs. 1, 3, 4, and may be modified asshown in Fig. 7. In this latter figure the outer or spray directing tubeis denoted by numeral IIb, the intermediate or liquid tube by thenumeral I3b, and the inner or air tube by the numeral I2b. Intermediateor liquid tube I3b is so formed that it is tapered as at 28 for asubstantial portion of its length so that its upper end that definesmixing chamber I5b is frusto-conical in shape. Thus the atomizationeffect and the character of the spray produced can be varied not only byvarying the length of the mixing chamber as before but also by varyingthe inside diameter of tube I3b at the mixing chamber.

The taper of liquid tube I3b can also serve a further useful function.It is sometimes necessary in order to obtain a spray of desiredcharacter with the embodiments shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5, to make theair tube and liquid tube of such relative size that the annular liquidpassageway between them is so narrow that capillary attraction willcause the liquid to flow up to the top of the air tube even when air isnot passed through the air tube. In such cases the liquid will, duringuse, Wet the top of the air tube and thereafter flow down the air tubeto the air bulb. By tapering liquid tube I3 this unwanted result isavoided as tubes I3b and I2b may be made of any relative size and yet byreason of taper 28 the liquid passageway below the top of tube I3b maybe made wide enough toprevent the raising of the liquid by capillaryattraction. This result may also be obtained by forming the liquid tubeas shown in Fig. 6. Enlargement 2B can easily be made large enough toprevent the liquid rising above it when the atomizer or spray is not inuse.

In all of the embodiments of my invention and their variations shown inFigures 1-8 and above described, the intermediate tube is not in any waywelded or otherwise permanently connected to the outer tube or to theinner tube. The intermediate'tube merely rests on the joint of the outerand inner tubes. It is held against substantial lateral and/or axialmovement by the projections formed in the outer tube. This expedientgreatly simplies the construction of the atomizers of my invention andenables their mass production to be carried out without the aid ofexpert glass blowers and/or accurate jigs and machinery.

In all of the preferred embodiments and modifications described theliquid or intermediate tube as well as the portion of the air or innertube Within the spray directing or outer tube are of very small mass.Also with the possible exception of the modication of Fig. 4 theintermediate or liquid tube while not welded to the outer tube is sofixed in position thereon that it cannot possibly injure the inner orair tube. While I have described a number of preferred embodiments andmodifications thereof it is obvious that further embodiments andmodications may be formed by other combinations of the featuresdisclosed.

I claim:

1. An atomizer comprising a spray directing tube, an air tube joined tosaid spray directing tube having one end extending into said spraydirecting tube, an air bulb connected to the other end of said air tube,a liquid tube loosely positioned around said air tube with one end inaspirating relation with said one end of said air tube adapted to directa liquid from the region of the connection of said spray directing tubeand said air tube to said extending end of said air tube, and meansformed on said spray directing tube engaging said liquid tube adjacentsaid one end thereof for preventing substantial movement of said liquidtube relative to said air tube.

2. An atomizer comprising an elongated spray directing tube having anenlarged end, an air tube joined to said enlarged end of said spraydirecting tube and having one end extending therein, an air bulbconnected to the other end of said air tube, said enlarged end of saidspray directing tube and said one end of said air tube dening betweenthem a liquid reservoir, and a liquid tube surrounding said one end ofsaid air tube and having one end in aspirating relation with said oneend of said air tube adapted to direct a fluid from said reservoir tosaid one end of said air tube, said spray directing tube being shaped toengage said liquid tube adjacent said one end thereof to preventsubstantial movement of said liquid tube on said air tube.

3. An atomizer comprising a spray directing tube, an air tube joined tosaid spray directing tube having one end extending into said spraydirecting tube, an air bulb connected to the other end of said air tube,and a liquid tube surrounding said one end of said air tube within saidspray directing tube, said liquid tube having one end resting adjacentthe joint of said spray directing tube and said air tube and the otherend extending beyond said extending end of said air tube, and arrangedin aspirating relation therewith, said spray directing tube being shapedto engage said liquid tube at and adjacent said other end oi said liquidtube to substantially fixedly position said liquid tube relative to saidair tube.

4. An atomizer comprising a spray directing tube, an air tube joined tosaid spray directing tube having one end extending into said spraydirecting tube, an air bulb connected to the other end of said air tube,and a liquid tube within said spray directing tube surrounding said airtube and extending from the joint of said spray directing tube and saidair tube to beyond said one end of the air tube to provide a liquidpassageway therethrough from said joint to said one end of said airtube, said liquid tube being enlarged adjacent said one end of said airtube to provide a liquid passageway of suihcient width at a substantialdistance below said one end of said air tube to prevent liquid rising tosaid one end of said air tube by capillary attraction.

5. An atomizer comprising a spray directing tube, an air tube joined tosaid spray directing tube having one end extending into said spraydirecting tube, an air bulb connected to the other end of said air tube,and a liquid tube within said spray directing tube surrounding said airtube, said liquid tube having one end resting adjacent the joint of saidspray directing tube and said air tube and the other end extendingbeyond said extending end of said air tube to provide a mixing .chambertherebetween, said spray directing tube being so bent that a portion ofits walls substantially touch said extending end of said liquid tubewhereby said liquid tube is substantially xedly positioned againstsubstantial movement relative to said air tube.

6. An atomizer comprising an outer tube, an inner tube extending intosaid outer tube and joined intermediate its ends to one end of saidouter tube, a third tube within said outer tube and surrounding saidinner tube, said third tube having one end resting on the joint of saidinner and outer tubes and the other end in aspirating relation with theend of said inner tube within said outer tube, an air bulb connected tothe external end of said inner tube, and means on said outer tubepositioning said third tube concentric with said inner tube.

7. An atomizer comprising an outer tube, an inner tube extending intosaid outer tube and joined intermediate its ends to one end of saidouter tube, a third tube in said outer tube surrounding said inner tube,said third tube having one end resting on the joint of said inner andouter tubes and the other end in aspirating relation with the end ofsaid inner tube within said outer tube, an air bulb connected to theexternal end of said inner tube, and means on said outer tube adjacentsaid other end of said third tube preventing substantial axial movementof said third tube relative to said inner tube.

8. An atomizer comprising an outer tube, an inner tube extending intosaid outer tube and joined intermediate its ends to one end of saidouter tube, a third tube in said outer tube surrounding said inner tube,said third tube having one end resting on the joint of said inner andouter tubes and the other end in aspirating relation with the end ofsaid inner tube within said outer tube, an air bulb connected to theexternal end of said inner tube, means on said outer tubo above thejoint of said inner and outer tubes positioning said third tubeconcentric with said inner tube, and means also on said outer tubepreventing axial movement of said third tube relative to said innertube.

9. An atomizer comprising an outer tube, an inner tube extending intosaid outer tube and joined intermediate its ends to one end of saidouter tube, a third tube in said outer tube surrounding said inner tube,said third tube having one end resting on the joint of said inner andouter tubes and the other end in aspirating relation with the end oisaid inner tube within said outer tube, an air bulb connected to theexternal end of said inner tube, and inwardly directed projections onsaid outer tube above the joint of said inner and outer tubes contactingwith said third tube to position said third tube concentric with saidinner tube.

l0. An atomizer comprising an outer tube, an inner tube joinedintermediate its ends to one end of said outer tube, a third tube, saidthird tube being in said outer tube and surrounding said inner tube andhaving one end adjacent the joint of said inner and outer tubes and theother end extending for a substantial distance beyond the end of saidinner tube within said outer tube, said third tube being of minimumdiameter at said other end and oi greater diameter between its ends, andprojections on said outer tube contacting with the walls of said thirdtube between its minimum and maximum diameters.

ll. An atomizer comprising an outer tube, an inner tube extending intosaid outer tube joined intermediate its ends to one end of said outertube, an air bulb connected to the outside end of said inner tube, athird tube in said outer tube surrounding said inner tube and extendingfrom the joint of said outer and inner tubes to beyond the end of saidinner tube, and baffle means formed in the walls `of said outer tubepositioned between the end of said third tube adjacent the end of saidinner tube and the other end of said outer tube.

12. An atomizer comprising an outer tube, an inner tube joinedintermediate its ends to one end of said outer tube, an air bulbconnected to the outside end of said inner tube, a third tube in saidouter tube vsurrounding said inner tube and extending from the joint ofsaid outer and inner tubes to beyond the end of said inner tube, thewalls oi said outer tube being formed to provide a plurality of inwardlydirected projections, at least one of said projections being locatedintermediate the ends of said third tube and substantially touching thewalls of said third tubeto position said third tube concentric of saidinner tube, at least one of said projections substantially touching theend of said third tube adjacent the end of said inner tube, and at leastone of said projections being above said end of said third tube andextending substantially thereacross whereby the spray issuing from saidend of said third tube upon contacting said last mentioned projectionhas the coarse drops separated therefrom.

18. An atomizer comprising an elongated outer tube, an inner tube joinedintermediate its' ends to one end of said outer tube to provide a liquidreservoir, an air bulb connected to the outside end of said inner tube,a third tube in said outer tube surrounding said inner tube andextending from the joint of said inner and outer tubes to beyond the endof said inner tube in said outer tube, and means formed in the walls ofsaid outer tube and positioned above the joint of said inner and outertubes for centering said third tube on said inner tube and preventingmovement of said third tube relative to said inner tube, said outer tubebeing elongated sufciently to provide a mass of material beyond the endof said third tube having a substantial heat retaining capacity wherebyby heating said mass a Warm spray may be produced.

14. An atomizer comprising an outer tube; an inner tube coaxialtherewith and united intermediate its ends to one end of said outer tubewith one end extending into said outer tube; said outer and inner tubesproviding a liquid reservoir between them; a liquid tube surroundingsaid inner tube defining a passageway for liquid from the regionadjacent the joint of said inner and outer tubes to the end orf theinner tube in said outer tube; means formed in the walls of said outertube contacting with said liquid tube for centering said liquid tube onsaid inner tube and preventing axial movement of said liquid tube onsaid inner tube; and an air bulb having a top portion with a holetherethrough housing the end of said inner tube outside of said outertube, a bottom portion with a check valve therein, and a skirtsurrounding said bottom portion to form a stable base adapted to supportsaid atomizer with the axis' of said tubes in a vertical position.

15. An air bulb adapted to be used as an air pump for atomizerscomprising a hollow body having a top portion and a bottom portion, saidtop portion having a hole therethrough for the outlet of air, saidbottom portion having a check valve therein for the inlet of air, and askirt surrounding said bottom portion and extending therefrom to form astable support for said air bulb, said bottom portion being convexadjacent said valve whereby the walls of said bulb adjacent said valvewill be deformed a minimum amount during use of said air bulb.

ROBERT F. MASSA.

